On November 19, the Florida Keys Mosquito Control District board voted to approve a trial of genetically modified (GM) mosquitoes designed to fight the Zika virus in the Keys.

Key West Source: Tampa Bay Times

The district has been working with British biotech company Oxitec for the last 5 years to get federal approval for a trial release of the genetically engineered male Aedes aegypti mosquitoes into the wild. When they mate with female Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, their offspring die.

The proposed trial had been mired in controversy, as many locals were concerned – and still are – about the many questions that remain unanswered about the altered mosquitoes, such as how being bitten by one of the insects might affect a person. [2]

Oxitec’s tries to release only male mosquitoes, which don’t bite, but it’s estimated that a small number of females do get released. The company claims that even if someone were to be bitten by a female, it wouldn’t matter because the altered genes aren’t in the mosquitoes’ saliva.

A Tale of 2 Communities

Key Haven residents rejected the trial, while nearly 60% of voters in Monroe County voted in favor of releasing the mosquitoes. The insects won’t be released in Key Haven, but the trial will proceed in a location yet to be determined. [1]

Although the Keys hasn’t had a problem with Zika, the area has had problems in the past with dengue, another disease carried by the same mosquito. The head of the county’s health department, Bob Eadie, said he is a proponent of the trial because he sees it as a way of preventing the spread of disease in the future. He explained:

“There is a tool available for the people of Monroe County that can help control mosquitoes that carry a very, very, very serious disease.”

The trial of genetically modified mosquitoes was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in August. The agency said at the time that it had found no potential adverse impact on human health or the environment. The FDA will need to give a final approval once the trial location is determined.

Opponents of the GMO trial say they won’t take the decision lying down. One woman said that if commissioners choose Key Largo as the site for the trial, residents there will hire private mosquito control crews to eradicate the GM mosquitoes. She told the district board:

“Have fun with that.” [2]

Of course, a private company would likely spray chemicals to get rid of the mosquitoes, so that’s not necessarily a better option.

Julie Fidler is a freelance writer, legal blogger, and the author of Adventures in Holy Matrimony: For Better or the Absolute Worst. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and two ridiculously spoiled cats. She occasionally pontificates on her blog.